While there is nearly universal acclaim in the Philippines for the abatement
of crime and violence during the first five weeks of martial law, Filipinos
are waiting to see whether President Marcos really
intends to eliminate Communist dissidence and to fundamentally reform
Philippine life. Marcos’ security measures so far
appear aimed more at his own political opponents than at Communists, and his
“reforms” have been little more than conventional bids for popular support
which could have been initiated without martial law. The more radical part
of Marcos’ reform program has so far been largely
hortatory, and nothing he has yet done directly threatens the entrenched
economic interests of the country’s oligarchy. What he clearly is doing is
erecting a one-man constitutional regime which permits him to stay in office
indefinitely, with almost unlimited powers, under a veneer of parliamentary
democracy. Marcos wants to have a new constitution
completed and approved by the country within about three months, which will
enable him to control the government for several years without having to
call elections if he finds it inexpedient to do so.

[Omitted here is discussion section of Marcos’ one-man
rule.]

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15 PHIL. Secret; No Foreign Dissem.
Drafted by Analyst Edwin L. Barber and Director Paul M. Popple of INR’s Office of Research and Analysis for
East Asia and Pacific on October 27.↩